SHIPMENT ALMOST READY

 Life is gearing down here in Hamilton to make room for gearing up in Ghana.  Medical stuff all done, now just getting bags etc. packed and saying good bye to all including my four legged Reilly

The 'getting ready' to travel to Ghana has started for the last time

This is my last journey to Ghana. 

I have made the decision that I have played the Health gamble long enough and that I need to stop challenging the health odds. I am ending this ministry in Ghana. My first trip was in 1994 as a preamble to giving a paper in Botswana at an International Health Care Conference in Gaborone. This ministry has given a perspective to my ministry and personnel life here in Canada that has kept me grounded in a reality that reminds me that the First World culture is distorted far from the Good News in scripture.

I've got the plane ticket, got 'out of country' health insurance, closing the cottage, packing the goods to ship and opening the suitcases. 

Leaving mid November so will be continuing this conversation then.

BACK IN CANADA

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 I arrived back last Thursday. Great travel journey, yea KLM. This is my seat mate, returning to her husband in Toronto. She was very sweet to me, help put case in the overhead space and entertained me with her description of her Henna designs.

Since return, I have been running errands, got my nails done, I do have my priorities straight LOL. Got the car underside coated by Krown, got a rechargeable  free vacuum there too. Started the journey to get my cataracts dealt with for surgery on April 29, Good to get it done so my summer has clear sight lines. I still need to pass my DL test, drawing the clock will be a challenge, LOL. 

I hope the stories have been entertaining and educational as that is my intent. 

I plan to return to Ghana in November for the last time. I think I have challenged the medical odds game enough and will find ministry here in Hamilton with Health Care near by. Getting old is a challenge and a test at times. Have a great fun filled summer.

Coming back

 left the house at 6am Wednesday, it is now 830am Thursday sitting in Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam Holland. When landing I could see canal after canal which keeps this country dry. Flight from Accra uneventful, a very pleasant change from my flight in (my flight from hell). Just waiting at the gate now for the last leg of my journey.

the drive from Wiawso to Accra was usual, bumpy unpaved sections of the highway with at least a half a dozen speed bumps in every village until we met a back up. A oil tanker crashed, one could  smell the spilled gasoline, local folks were carrying gas cans and gathering up the spill (no idea how they did it), we sat and sat and sat. It was only 11 am but I did have concerns that I might be there all day.   

                                                 Waiting waiting waiting 

 Good travelling mercies prevailed and the wait was just 90 minutes. As we got going the back up on the other side of the crash must have been 15 miles long, mostly rigs with trailers, it want on and on and on. Arrived in Accra with plenty of spare time, so sat quite peacefully waiting to board.

                                            Amsterdam... waiting

soon, back in Hamilton

HOLY WEEK = A MARATHON TO BE SURE

 PALM SUNDAY

A walk through the streets and arriving at cathedral

Then Clergy Retreat Sunday, Monday and Tuesday at Bishopscourt. Its a sleep over but I live 5 minutes away and slept in my own bed.

Topic: BEING FAITHFUL TO GOD AND YOUR CALLING

I admitted that I did not want to get ordained, I mean who in their right mind  would want to work in the church, I did not want  to be a priest. The air was sucked out of the room with my comments. I gathered that no one xpoke or thought like that here.......oooopsy I made a social foopaw. Bishop then admitted he too did not want to be a priest and told his story, then a third admitted not wanting to be 

Wednesday CRISM MASS. oils blessed, vows reaffirmed

                                                        all lined up

WHEN

Maunday Thursday: foot washing and stripping the altar

Friday: WHEN I SURVEY THE WONDEROUS CROSS, ON WHICH .........

Saturday: new fireU the Light of Christ, blessing of the water and baptism. new beginnings

EASTER: HE IS RISEN INDEED

Easter Monday Kids Party

I tell everyone this party is the reason I come back to Ghana. 

Shove the pews aside: Kids in the cathedral: playing, being a kid

Core Hole, Checkers, Dominos,  Darts, Blonkus, and more.

                                                              BIG KIDS TOO

 

 A little weary, now packing to return to Canada, leave Wed, and back in Toronto the afternoon o the 9th It has been a good and fruitful time.

ASSIN MANSO SLAVE RIVER

 This was a major 18 Century slave market and the final stop for captives before  reaching the coast Elmlina and Cape Coast castles. Enslaved Africans bathed in this river and rested before being shipped across the Atlantic. It is serves as a poignant historical site and memorial for the diaspora. 

I asked some of the fellows in the office I share 'what this place meant to them' and they have very little connection it seems. I was perplexed as this response so I kept asking why no reaction. One reason I realized is that everyone is quite poor here and that the main life purpose is to have food every day and a place to livev which keeps them busy. I was told today a second that the diaspora have a different life being black. Here there is no obvious difference being black whereas in USA or Caribbean   for example being black means you are different and ttreated differently as well.  When the diaspora comes here, for the first time they do not look different they are the same and not treated different because of their skin colour. So a place live the Slave River takes on a hightened emotional response. 

The entrance to the site has the need to knock on the gate like the slaves would have done, to ensure that is is ok to enter.

We walked along a path that was leading to the river. This small building has the pictures of the chiefs that were in charge down throught the years.. Showing respect for  their elders is very important to maintain so erecting this building is a reminder of the past.

You notice that I am sitting as my mobility is limited these days so using a chair  enabled me to see the whole site. Here is the last steps for the slaves, down to the river where Michael is standing.

All and all this was very interesting. Victor, Dominic and Michale along  with Darby (michael's wife and E:izabeth's motherone wife ) came with me and were very helpful in getting me back and forth to see the site.

The place was quite far so this from Wiawso it was a whole day adventure, from 430 am till 9pm. i guess I do not need to say but I will anyway, exhausted does not cover how I felt and it has been until today, Friday for me to recover. I would not have nissed it for the world, a very memorable visit.

Anglican school ANHWIAN #2,

 The school wrote a proposal asking for some assistance to rebuild their structure that I saw a couple of weeks ago. Last Sunday we meet for them to receivet the funds.

Yes the Director of the school is a Muslim. She is a quiet but an effective leader. I asked for me the obvious question, 'how is it for a Muslim to lead and Anglican School. She was surprised at the question. She said there was not problem ' she just did what was asked of her' I asked what happens is there is a conflict...there were not.  I wondered to myself if obedience overroad theology for her. Anyway it is working and the Bishop is pleased with the results. 

Bishop on my far right along with the Board of Dirctors.